ASSISTANT TEACHER

INDIANHEAD COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY•Ladysmith, WI

144d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for assisting the teacher in the development of an age-appropriate educational environment for preschool children. To act as an Ambassador to the Agency and to reflect all Agency matters positively.

Requirements

Minimum Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).
Demonstrates knowledge and skills in early human development and appropriate programming.
Demonstrates clear and complete oral and written communication skills, appropriate respect, and good listening skills.
Maintains confidentiality and professionalism of all family, volunteer, and staff information.
Communicates optimistically, positively, and with honesty and openness.
Manages time effectively, uses program resources wisely.
Must have computer skills.
Demonstrates effective leadership, teaming, and conflict resolution skills, and demonstrates knowledge in appropriate child management strategies.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to serve as a productive team member on an interdisciplinary team of professionals, respect and respond competently to the culture, traditions, lifestyle, language, and values of each family and community, and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Ability to work with or act as an interpreter/translator, when applicable, following the program’s interpretation and translation guidelines.
To follow the program's Dual Language policies and procedures when working in the classroom.

Nice To Haves

An AA in Early Childhood Education is preferred.

Responsibilities

Must supervise and monitor children at all times by following Active Supervision procedures, policies, and strategies to ensure no child is ever left unsupervised.
Follow direction and support from the teacher regarding classroom expectations and adult-child interactions.
Assist the teacher in ensuring the quality and safety of the educational environment.
Participate in the developmental screening process when appropriate.
Work with and encourage parent and community volunteers.
Assist the teacher in assessment by recording specific examples of developmental progress for individual children.
Use positive child guidance techniques and build nurturing relationships through caregiving routines.
Use developmentally appropriate practices to facilitate activities with groups and individuals.
Follow a consistent schedule which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, and effective transitions between activities.
Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem-solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.
Promote family literacy.
Be a positive role model to children and volunteers at all times.
Responsible for supporting the program in collecting in-kind to meet federal requirements.
Prepare materials for classroom activities.
Attend staff meetings and trainings.
Promote and support parent involvement and leadership throughout the program.
Responsible for active supervision of all children during Head Start/EHS/CCP activities.
Participate in the general cleaning of the center.
Maintain classroom and outdoor space so they are neat, clean, and ready for daily activities.
Sanitize classroom equipment and toys, following work plan procedures.
Must support the center during major transitions to ensure child safety and supervision.
Must follow the break schedule created by the supervisor.
To the extent possible, employees will not provide direct services to their family members. However, when this is not possible, to minimize potential conflicts of interest, employees should avoid providing direct services to their family members. If an employee is responsible for the care and guidance of closely related children, they should make every effort to transfer these responsibilities to another caregiver within the classroom. This approach helps maintain professional boundaries and ensures impartiality in service delivery.
Assist the teacher in maintaining appropriate documentation of each child’s developmental level and progress.
Keep and submit records and reports as required.
Participate in educational planning for children.
Participate in center monitoring for safety and compliance.
Participate in child/family staffing when applicable.
Monitor safety on the bus.
Assist children boarding/leaving the bus.
Ensures children are secured in child restraints and all adult passengers use appropriate seat belts.
Visually observe the health of each child on the bus. Report any concerns to the teacher and parent/guardian.
Occupy the children during the ride with developmentally appropriate songs, games, observations, etc.
Collaborate with the driver to ensure that each child is delivered to the care of a responsible adult (authorized list on Transportation Permission Fact Sheet) upon leaving the bus.
Ensure that no child is ever left unattended while on bus, following all Active Supervision, child attendance, and bus alarm deactivation procedures as written in the Transportation workplan to prevent a child from being left behind.
Preparation and delivery of meals/snacks that meet USDA Food Program requirements for pre-school and or infant/toddler children and all Head Start program requirements and policies.
Ensure meals are prepared and served on schedule.
Use food production and food storage procedures that meet USDA and CACFP requirements.
Follow standards of sanitation according to State and Head Start regulations and policies.
Safely operate basic food service equipment provided by Head Start.